Track: Sustainability and Green Systems
Abstract
Introduction. At first, just the pines of the pineapple plant were harvested because they were the part of the plant that was regarded to have economic value. Pineapples can be grown and harvested, providing a source of revenue for farmers; in addition, both the pineapple fruit and its juice are essential to human nutrition. In addition to the volume of pineapples harvested, the amount of garbage that is produced is also a significant burden. Farmers would traditionally dispose of discarded pineapple leaves by burning them, but thanks to advances in science and technology, those leaves can now be used for something else. The fibres in the pineapple leaves are of a very high grade, and they can be extracted from the various leaf portions. Since ancient times, the fibres extracted from pineapple leaves have been included into the production of a wide variety of textile goods. When used as a material for fabric, ananas leaf fibre has the properties of being able to easily absorb moisture, being robust enough and not easily scratched, not being hot, and being able to absorb sweat; these traits are desirable. While the pineapple is being cooked, the leaves can be successfully peeled with minimal effort.
In Indonesia, pineapple leaf fibre is commonly used as a textile thread, and this practise is carried out at the community level in the context of textile manufacture. Many people still rely on manual processes despite the fact that the process of extracting pineapple leaf fibres requires sophisticated equipment. The older pineapple leaves are removed, and while they are still moist, they are put through a machine that crushes them into fibres. After this step, the fibres are washed, combed, and left to dry. After going through this process, the fibres that have been spun into threads are then separated from one another and linked so that they can be woven into fabric (Mampuk, 2020). There are two steps involved in the process of extracting the fibres from the pineapple leaf, and these are the raw fibres and the fine fibres. During the first stage of the process, known as extraction, the leaf is broken down mechanically using extractor tools in order to produce rough fibres. The extracted raw fibres are then subjected to further processing in order to be transformed into the fine fibre that is found in the pineapple leaf. It is first necessary to use a degumming instrument in order to extract the fine fibre from the pineapple leaf; this fibre is then chopped using a cutting tool.
Problem Statement. The applications for pineapple leaf fibres are extremely diverse and extensive. Raw materials can be derived from a wide range of natural fibres, including those found in pineapple leaves. Pineapple leaf fibres are one example of this. Pine apple leaf fibres have the potential to be used as eco-friendly substitutes for a number of different products, including textiles, paper raw materials, and compound fibreglass. Composites made from pineapple fibres could be used as alternatives to composite materials in the production of ship leather, as well as in the construction of drone frames. These findings come from a number of studies that have been conducted on the topic of pineapple fibres as composites.
In the realm of empowering the community through the management of pineapple leaf fibres, PT First Hulu Energy has two programme locations, one of which is known as the Subang charm in Subang, and the other is known as the Raden Mas Prabu program in Prabumulih. Both of these programmes are located in the province of Prabumulih. The utilisation of pineapple leaf waste, with the extraction of the fibre of the leaf to be utilised as a raw material in the textile industry, as well as other possible applications, is something that both of these programmes have in common.
Method. The objective of the Pesona Subang Program in Subang Region is to raise awareness about the potential of pineapple leaves as a source of natural fibre. It is anticipated that all operations associated with the use of fibre leaves would be integrated into it in order for it to become the economic potential of leaves. After that, the procedure for the creation of pineapple leaf fibres proceeded in a subsequent stage. The next and final step is making an effort to broaden the range of items that can be made from pineapple leaf fibre. In addition to the aforementioned goals, the Pesona Subang Program in Subang aims to find a solution to the issue of pineapple leaf waste, which has been an unresolved issue in pine apple farming. This issue has been a hidden concern for quite some time.
Result. The manufacturing process for pineapple leaf fibres may be broken down into five distinct steps. The following are the five stages: (1) The process of sorting pineapple leaves The goal of this process is to obtain high-quality pineapple leaf fibre, which is characterised by a mature and lengthy leaf. (2) The second step in the process of extracting fibre involves choosing a pine leaf and then inserting it into a machine called a decorticator. This involves dragging the leaf into the machine at each end in order to separate leaf flesh and fibre. (3) The procedure of cleaning the fibre: after extraction, there are still lingering leaf flesh remains that are attached, therefore they are scratched and cleaned on the fibre using a thick knife or a cape. After this, the fibre is ready to be used. (4) The fibre is washed, and then depending on the conditions, it is either left to soak in water or let to dry in the sun for one day. (5) Fibre that has been dried and is now ready to be processed into fiber-free products is referred to as finishing fibre leaf.